Mike Conley operates with minimal overhead. (Photo by Stan Brein)
Marveling at the genius of Vicki Baker (photo by Stan Brein)
Stan Brein
Blazing heat. Long daylight. Dry, dusty roads. Hot seats. Remembering to hydrate. Soaked clothes. Sunscreen. The rituals of summer abound for motorcyclists. Check that tire pressure. Is the gas in the tank stale? Where did all that dust and dirt come from? As the calendar turns, there are so many events that we look forward to. The passage of time, another milestone.
And, so, the mid-year celebration we all look forward to: the Robson Ranch Motorcycle Club 4th of July Parade Decorating Party. Held on the evening of July 3 each year, it has become the pièce de résistance of parties for adorning our iron steeds.
Vicki and Scott Baker again graciously opened their house to the club as we schmoozed and dined on brats and fixin’s. It’s always great to talk about the places we visited, the places on our travel list, the new gizmos on our rides, and just how much fun motorcycling is. And, of course, plans were made for the garnishing of the bikes.
The centerpiece is the Baker’s Yellow Honda Trike and Trailer. It was festooned in a manner that would make Roman chariot builders proud. It takes the combined talents and skills of architectural, mechanical, electrical, sound, structural, and Union Pacific engineers to construct the recognizable icon for the crowds along the parade route to adore. Throw in some folks with an eye for fashion and the skills of a decorator, and voilà! (Zip ties, bailing wire, and chewing gum also abound.)
The results were on display the following day at the 4th of July Parade. It just gets bigger and better every year. Led by Mike Conley’s RC Squadron Lead device, we broke speeds of 3-4 miles per hour while generating enough heat to cook dinner. Much thanks to organizers Debra Noguera, Rose Depoe, Steve Depoe, Gary Noguera, and the many volunteers who help make this happen. They keep us in line, literally and figuratively.
Looking for a summer ride? The National Motorcycle Museum in Anamosa, Iowa, is a great place to go if you want to see, hear, and touch the history of motorcycling. It is owned and operated by Jill and John Parham, the owners of J&P Cycles, the premier place to get motorcycle goodies. Even if you haven’t bought anything from them, I know you have seen the ads or browsed the catalog. Unfortunately, they are closing their doors on Sept. 4. Joyce and I are planning to stop there on our way to Wisconsin this summer.
Coming up on July 18, Steve Bouse has set up a breakfast ride to My Café in Flower Mound. Aug. 17 will be the Breakfast Ride to 5 Boys Ranch in Bridgeport, led by Ride Captain Dave Riddle. And Sept. 29 to Sept. 30 is the ride to Granbury, including the 9 to 5 show at the Granbury Opera House.
See you on the road!
Beware of cagers, and keep the rubber side down!